Feed-water heater and purifier



.(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l. J, J. HOPPES.

FEED WATER HEATER AND EURIEIER.

110.369,712. Sept. 13, 1887,.

III/IA N, PETERS. Phmumogmpm. wmngln. D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. J. HOPPES. FEED WATER HEATER AND EUEIEIEE.

No. 369,712. Patented Sept. 13, 1887.

Z lgi i7*- UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

JOHN J. HOPPES, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

FEED-WATER HEATER VAND PURIFIER.

SPECIFICATION forming pari; of Letters Patent No. 369,712, dated September 13, 1887.

Application tiled December 16, 1886. Sel-'al No. 221,796. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. HoPrEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, inthe county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Tater Heaters and Puriiiers, of which the following is aspecitcation.

My invention relates to feed-water heaters for steam-boilers, and it particularly relates to that class of heaters which are adapted to eX- tract the lime and other impurities from the water as well as heat it to a high temperature before it is admitted to the boiler.

My invention consists, first, in a plate or pan having an opening therein the sides of which are inclined outwardly and so constructed that theV water will flow through said opening and follow the under surface of said pan or plate and be subjected to the heat of the steam, and thus become thoroughly heated and deposit the incrustating substance therein contained. i

My invention further consists in arranging the plates or pans in a series one above the other in an outer casing and providing means for adjusting said pans to a horizontal position, so that the water will flow evenly over the edges ofthe openings therein. v

My invention further consists in a feed or overiiow box of novel construction, through which the water is fed to the pans or plates.

My invention further consists in various constructions and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure I is a side elevation View, partly in section, of a steamboiler to which one of my improved heaters is attached, the heater being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional eleva-tion view .of the heater, showing the arrangement of the plates and pans therein. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a portion of the lower end ofthe outer casing of the heater, showing the means for adjusting the plates or pans to a horizontal position in the said casing. Fig. 4t is aseotional elevation view of a heater, showing a slight modification of the construction and of lthe method of attaching the same to a boiler.

Fig. 5 is a vplan view of one of the pans or plates. Fig. 6 is aperspective View, partlyin section, showing the manner of adjusting the pans. Figs. 7 and 8 are detailed views of the feed or overflow boX. Figs. 9, 10, and Il are views showing modifications inthe construction of the parts, to be hereinafter referred to.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

In the said drawings, A represents the outer casing of the heater, which is preferably made of a plain cylindrical form placed in an upright position.

B represents the pans or plates thereiinwhich are preferably placed horizontally in the said outer casing and arranged in series one above the other. Each of the pans B consists, preferably, of an outer ring, a, having a troughshaped flange, a', which extends slightly below the bottom thereof at an angle thereto, and

then turns upwardly and inwardly, forming a' corner, a2, slightly below and within the inner side of the said ring.

Secured to the iiange a' and projecting upwardly into the ring a is a cone shaped bottom, ai, preferably made of sheet-steel and provided at the top with an opening. ai. The sides of the respective pans formed by the rings a extend above the openings in the coneshaped .bottoms a3, and arc so constructed that the bottom of one ring is adapted to rest on the top of the ring below, with the angular flange which forms the lower edge ofthe bottom of each ring projected into the ring below.

The water is admitted to the heater in such a manner that it iiows into the upper pan. When the water in the pan rises to the top of the cone-shaped bottom,it flows over the sides of the opening therein andfollows the under surface of said bottom to the lower projecting edge thereof. It drops into the next succeeding pan, and so on through the series. Steam is admitted to the heater in any desired manner, and comes in contact with the water flowing down on the under surface of the pans, and thus thoroughly heats the same, causing it to deposit the incrustating substances therein on the under side of the cone-shaped bottoms of the pans.

I preferably connect the heater directly to the boiler, so that the steam-pressure and teinperature will Ybe the same therein as in the boiler, thus subjecting the water to the same lOO conditions as it would be subjected to in the boiler proper. I preferably accomplish this by forming the heater in the top of the boiler,` as shown in Fig. 1, or connecting it directly to the same above the water-line, as shown in Fig. 4. By this means the full pressure and temperature ofthe boiler are obtained and only one connection is necessary--namel y, the pipe which conveys the water thereto.

The water is supplied to the heater by an inlet-pipe, C, from the feeding-pumps or any other convenient source of supply. The feeding-pipe C preferably passes through the top of the heater into an overflow-boX or feed-box, D. This feed-box D,I construct as follows:

The main part of the feed-box consists of a circular pan, b, the sidesy of which are projected downwardly below the bottom b to form a flange or ledge, b2, around the lower edge thereof. Surrounding the inlet-pipe and concentric with the outer pan, b, is a smaller pan, b3, which is connected at suitable intervals by strips bito the larger'pamb. This smaller pan, b3, is placed in the larger pan in an inverted position, so that the sides thereof project downwardly into the pan b.

The inlet-pipe C passes through the top of the inverted pan b3 and projects therein, so that its lower end stands below the upper edges of the sides of the outer pan,b, but above the lower edges of the sides of the inverted pan b3. By this means it will be seen that the end of the inlet-pipe always stands below the water-line iu the overflow-box, while the sides ofthe inner pan, b3, projecting below the end of said pipe, form a brake between the said pipe and the point at whichthe water is discharged froni said pan. By this means the boiling and bubbling over the edges of the feedboX, caused by its discharge from the inlet-pipe, are prevented, the water being dis charged over the sides of the pan b in a thin even sheet.

Means are provided for adjusting the overflow-box so that it will always maintain a horizontal position, and thus cause the water to flow evenly over the sides thereof. This I preferably accomplish by providing atv either side'of the pan extending arms bhadapted to project upwardly and be engaged by adj ustingscrews bu in the top of the casing A, the opening in the top ofA the inverted pau being adapted to t loosely over the end of the inlet pipe.

If desired, the overflow or feeding box may be pivoted to the lower end of the inlet-pipe and provided at either side with adjustingscrews adapted to bear against the'top of the casing, by means of which the pan may be readily adjusted, or any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose. The overiiow or feeding boX projects beyond the opening a5 in the upper pan,so that vthe waterflows from the said feeding-box into the upper pan near the outer edge thereof, the projecting ledges on the bottom of the overflow-box being adapted to cause the water to drop directly l which is attached a removable head, F.

down from the overliowing sides of the said boX, and thus prevent its running along the under side of the said box and dropping into the opening in the upper pan. The opening a5 beingeonsiderably above the lower edge of the bottom. of the pan, the pan remains at all times nearly full of watenthus giving the free solids therein opportunity to settle. the pan lls up to the upper edges of the coneshaped bottom,the Water flows over the edges of the opening therein and along the under surface of the said bottom yuntil it drops into the next successive pan. The top ofthe coneshaped bottom being much smaller in diameter than the lower portion thereof, it will be seen that as the water hows over the edges of said opening and follows the under surface of the cone-shaped bottom it will be spread out over a much greater surface.and thus reduced to a much thinner sheet,as it-.approaches the lower edge of the said bottom. By this means avery thin even sheet of water will be formed flowing down the lower portion of the said coneshaped bottoni,which,coming in direct contact with the steam in the said heater,will cause it to part with all its incrustating substances and deposit them on the under side ofthe pans.

In order that the water will flow over the edges of the opening in the respective pans in a uniform sheet, I provide means for leveling up the pans, so that they may always occupy a horizontal position in the heater. This I accomplish by providing at the bottom of the heater three or more adjustable supports, c, on which the lower panis adapted to rest. In Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive,these supports are shown in the form of brackets, secured to the outer When v IOO easing,a, by small bolts which pass through slotted openings in the said casing. In Figs. 4 and 6 I have shown thesupports in the form of set-screws `which pass vertically through the bottom of the outer casing and form supports on which thelower pan at its outer edge is adapted to rest. It will be seen that by the means thus described the lower panmay be readily adjusted to ahorizontal position,after which the upper pans are placed thereon,and, being of uniform size,will also occupy a horizontal position. A simple means for adjusting the lower pan is to fill thepan with Water and move the adjustable supports until the water stands at an equal height around the edge of said pan.

I preferably make the outer casing, A, of a straight cylindrical shape of boiler-iron, the upper end of which is provided with an annularr ring or flange, E, secured thereto, to The outer ring or sides, a, of the pans are made of a suitable size to slip loosely into the outer casing, and may be removed therefrom for cleaning or other purposes by removing the cover F.

- It is obvious that the pans, instead of being round, could be made of any desired formsquare or hexagonal, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, or of any other desired shape. In-` IIO scarna t stead of having the outer edge straight and projected above the opening in the bottom of said pans, the pans could be made,as shown in Fig. 1l, with the sides thereof inclined in either direction, so that the water would iiow over the outer edges, as well as over the edges of the opening therein, following the under surface of the pan in both cases.

The heater thus described I preferably use as a live-steam heater-that is, one which is connected directly to the boiler. It is evident, however, that the constructions herein set forth may be used in an exhaust-steam heater or any other form of heater now in use.

If desired, the heater may be placed separate and apart from the boiler, and separate connections be provided for steam and water, in which case, if desired, a filter may be added through which the water is adapted to pass after coursing through, the respective pans. Various other modifications may be employed, which will readily suggest themselves to' a mechanic. I do not therefore confine myself to the constructions herein set forth; but

I claim, broadly, as my inventionl. In a feed-water heater, a pan having an upwardly-projecting conical bottom provided with an opening therein so formed that the water will iiow through said opening` and outwardly along the under surface of said coneshaped bottom, substantially as set forth.

2. In a feed-water heater, the combination, with an outer casing, ofa series of pans placed one above the other, each of said pans being provided with an upwardly-extending coneshaped bottom provided with an opening in the top thereof so formed that the water from the said pans will pass through the said opening and iiow outwardly along the under side of said cone-shaped bottom and be discharged in the next successive pan, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a feed-water heater, of a pan or pans each of which is provided with an opening therein, havinginclined sides, and means for adjusting said pan or pans to a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a feed-water heater, an overliow or feeding box, an inlet-pipe which is adapted to project below the water-line thereof,and downwardly-projecting iianges extending below the bottom of said inlet-pipe between the said pipe and overliow-edges of said box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, in a feed-water heater, with the inlet-pipe, of an overflow or feeding box into which the said inletpipe is adapted to discharge, and means for adjusting said box to a horizontal position in the said heater, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, in a feed-water heater, with the inlet-pipe, of the outer pan, the sides of which are provided with projecting ledges below the bottom thereof, and an inverted pan secured near the center of said outer pan around the inlet-pipe, the lower end of said pipe being adapted to project below the overiiow-edges of the outer pan and stand above the edges of the inverted pan, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with a steamboiler, of a feed-water heater connected directly to said boiler above the water-line thereof, said feedwater heater being provided with a series of removable overflow-pans having inclined bottoms with openings therein through which the water is adapted to flow, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination, ina feed-water heater, of a series of overliow-pans, each of which consists of an outer ring provided at the bottom with an inwardly-projecting flange at an angle thereto and a cone-shaped bottom secured to said ange and provided with an opening therein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, in afeed-water heater, of the overiiow-pans provided with an opening therein having inclined sides, on the under side of which the water is adapted to flow after passing through said opening, and an overiiow or feed box above the said pans, said feedbox being provided at the bottom with projecting ledges on either side of said opening, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, in a feed-water heater, with the pans having inclined bottoms with openings therein through which the water is adapted to flow, of an overflow or feeding box suspended from the top of said heater and provided at the bottom with downwardlyprojecting ledges on either side of said openings, and means for adjusting said feedingbox to a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

1l. The combination, with a steam-boiler, of a feed-water heater open at its lower end and set directly into said boiler, said feedwater heater being provided with a series of pans having inclined bottoms with openings therein through which the water is adapted to flow, a supplypipe adapted to discharge the water into the said pans, and adjustable supports for supporting said pans in said heater, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setV my hand this 10th day of December, A. D. 1886.

JOHN J. HOPPES.

Witnesses:

CHASE STEWART. PAUL A. STALEY. 

